Sharp County record., 1887-01-27
LEGISLATIVE AND OTHER ITEMS.
SPECIAL correspondence to the RECORD.

SPECIAL correspondence to the RECORD.
LITTLE ROCK, Jan. "a, 1887.
The present general assembly, like all
Arkansas legislatures that have preceded
it, il composed largely Of persons engaged
in agricultural pursuits, with dozen and
a half members from the legal profession
and The remainder from the various walks
of life. Apparently it is an unselfsh, up.
right and earnest body Of lawmakers,
perhaps as good as the average, capable
of accomplishing much good and able to
avert the many evils frequently threat
ened by too much law-making, If they
will exercise that ability.
The new hall of the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, now occupied for the first
time, is elegant, spacious a. comfortable
compared with the old arrangement.
whie the old hall, remodeled and return
ished, accommodates the senate quite
costly. The new heating apparatus and
mryoved ventilation seem admirably
adapted to the comfort and convenience OF
the peoples representatives. A modern
front, surmounted by big dun cupola,
wosld now make the old building thing
of beauty.
a bill appropriating S8OOOO to pay the
mileage, per diem and contingent expen-
ses of the general assembly became law
within the first week of the session, even
before the members were warm in their
seats.
,fouse bill No. 1856, to change the line
between lizard and Sharp counties, passed
the house last Thursday. 1t only effects
two persons named Aaron and Smith. by
detaching their farms from lizard and
adding them to Sharp county. As all
persons interested in the matter have pc
titioned for the change it is presumable
that the senate will pass the bill.
Many persons of intelligence and enter
prise and who are possessed of a just con-
ception of right and wrong in the
ordinary affairs of life, have. by the per-
sissent Misrepresentation Of political dem.
agogues, come to view ell railroad
enterprises as embodiments of wickedness
AMI corruption, to regard railway compa-
mis- as unholy and tyranuical monopolies
a,si their officers as public enemies, but
the present general assembly Is not OF
that class. From what can learn the
b. st men in the legislature take their cue
from the last democratic platform as to
tbs subject and their Intentions are to
dial out even handed justice to the rail-
r. ,ds and to exact the same from them in
bF,slf Of the people.
,3-r4.Ans % different bills. either to repeal.
amend or modify the mortgage lave.
have already been introduced, Some OF
the more thoughtful members are at
loss ABOUT the wisdom of changing these
laws, while the exemption clauses remain
as parts of the constitution.
The interstate commerce bill which has
recently passed both houses of congress
and will become law, regulates passen-
ger and freight rates over lines passing
through more states than one. Speaker
Hewitt has prepared bill mbodying the
main features of the congressional bill,
which he will present within day or
two for action in the house. By it railroad
lines wholly within the state may be gov
erned. 1t looks very much like the fed.
eral and state governments are going to
step in between the railroads and the
people and set down on the monopoly
phase of railroad traffic.
Several bills to repeal aud still more to
amend the game laws have been intro
duced and as to the free pass question:
the enemies to the dog law in the legisla.
ture of 1877 were but a corporals guard
compared to the vast multitude now de-
manding the destruction of the free pass.
Let the free-pass bill freely pass,
And do not kill 1t with too much gas.